Obama: US, not China, should set rules in region

MANILA, Philippines - Delivering his final State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Barack Obama stressed that the United States, and not China, should “set the rules” in the Asia-Pacific region.

Obama mentioned China as he pushed the US Congress to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among 12 countries in the region signed in October last year. China has not been invited to the TPP.

“You want to show our strength in this century? Approve this agreement. Give us the tools to enforce it,” Obama told Congress.

Members of the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

Restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution, among other things, have prevented the Philippines’ membership in the TPP, which China and Russia have criticized as an exclusive club.

Washington has been engaged in a security “pivot” or rebalance to Asia amid China’s growing presence.

Obama has said China must end artificial island building in the South China Sea, increasing the pressure on Beijing during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit.

He turned up the heat on China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea as world leaders gathered in Manila for the start of the APEC summit last November.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Aquino in Manila, Obama had said they discussed how to address China’s provocations in disputed areas of the sea, including China’s creation of new islands and construction of lighthouses, ports, military facilities and airstrips.

“We agree on the need for bold steps to lower tensions, including pledging to halt further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea,” Obama said.

The South China Sea dispute has been a major focus at the APEC, which brings together 21 Pacific Rim leaders to focus on trade and business issues in the region.

The Philippines, however, worries about China’s military presence and its domination over fishing grounds that have long been used by many nations in the region.